Leadership doesn’t come from being like everyone else.
A unique commitment. The natural resources that surround Northland College, like the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and Lake Superior, have been integrated into our classrooms since our 1892 founding. In 1971, Northland made a bold decision to be a different kind of college by focusing our mission and liberal arts and sciences curriculum around issues of the environment and sustainability. We believe that the environment and sustainability are the most important issues of our time. If they are not addressed successfully, few other global and societal problems will matter. This unique focus provides our faculty and students a common perspective through which to explore together the many academic disciplines that are a part of a sound, high-quality liberal arts and sciences curriculum. These disciplines include the usual areas of study, spanning from business to art, from chemistry to sociology, from teaching to biology, and from English to engineering. Today, Northland College remains a national leader in delivering the most innovative, holistic, and well-established liberal arts and sciences curriculum focused on the environment and sustainability. If you’re someone who won’t settle for anything less than a college degree that reflects true preparation for the future and not just wisdom from the past, you’ll graduate from Northland with something extra: “green” skills that will mark you as a problem-solving leader uniquely prepared for today and the future.
President Michael A. Miller, Ph.D.
Northland’s curriculum is designed to assure students graduate within four years.
their
Environmental Sciences
Peter Weishampel, Ph.D, visiting assistant professor of Natural Resources, demonstrates the proper technique for taking a core sample from a living tree.
Biology
The Biology major offers an exciting blend of traditional biological study with an added emphasis on ecology and environmental studies. Our Biology program allows you to study in the field and in the lab. You can take advantage of unique northern lakes and woods biomes in more than a million acres of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the Lake Superior watershed. You will be prepared for employment in bio-research, natural resources, and environmental consulting.
Meteorology Lake Superior significantly affects the Ashland area weather. This “lake effect” can, for example, cause snow to fall on you while just a few miles away it is sunny and 15 degrees warmer. The impact of Lake Superior adds a fascinating aspect to predicting the weather, understanding global climate, and conducting in-depth research on climate change. Northland College is one of the few small private colleges to offer this major. Learn more at northland.edu/meteorology
Environmental Geosciences
The Environmental Geosciences major emphasizes fieldwork, hands-on experiences, and the interdisciplinary nature of geoscience. You will become proficient at gathering field data and using equipment to produce maps that illustrate the distribution and nature of Earth’s features. You can focus your learning in Meteorology, Geology, or Water Science.
Environmental Chemistry The hands-on coursework of the Environmental Chemistry major prepares you for a diverse future and a career addressing environmental and energy crises. These options include working in government agencies, medicine, law, and public policy.
Math
Learn more at northland.edu/sciences
With a Mathematical Sciences degree, you will develop a solid foundation in mathematical concepts and gain experience in applying those concepts to model environmental, social, or physical phenomena. This dual training will get you ready for graduate studies in mathematics, engineering, and other fields, or to secure employment in a wide variety of disciplines, including teaching, business, and government.
Outdoor Education
Paula Anich, Ph.D., teaches students about aquatic invertebrates.
If you have a deep passion for the outdoors and want to help others gain the skills they need to enjoy the natural world, consider a degree in Outdoor Education. Students collaborate as they explore the connections between education and the environment. Graduates work in wilderness skills schools, community, state, and federal parks, and help people with disabilities enjoy outdoor pursuits.
Learn more about Outdoor Education at northland.edu/oe
With a Natural Resources degree, you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to communicate effectively, manage natural resources, and solve problems and conflicts. You’ll gain practical experience through field activities and by using work teams to prepare plans, develop budgets, and analyze data.
Fisheries
Explore basic concepts and specific methods for managing fish populations. Learn and use modern statistical methods to estimate vital parameters of exploited fish populations, including abundance, age, growth, mortality, condition, and size structure.
Learn theories and techniques for management of wildlife populations, including population dynamics, life histories, habitat management, census techniques, and preservation of endangered species. You will gain insight and experience through field trips to local areas of interest and hands-on field work.
Ecological Restoration Study the natural elements and relationships that create a balanced eco-system. Then learn the nuts and bolts of designing and implementing a restoration plan using a range of tools from native plantings to prescribed fire.
Sarah Larsen `12 Clifton Park, NY Outdoor Education Major Natural Science Teaching Minor Watch students in the field at northland.edu/videos
Natural Resources
Wildlife Management
Education
Our education program enables you to earn your degree and complete student teaching in four years.
Paul Schue, Ph.D., engages students in a discussion about history.
Teacher Education
Join a vibrant, diverse group of students with caring, attentive professors to become an elementary, social studies, or science teacher. You’ll find a learning environment in which students develop close relationships with faculty, explore personal styles, practice positive classroom interactions, and learn from one another. Teaching compassionately, collaboratively, and ecologically, shapes Northland’s distinctive Education Program.
Find out more at northland.edu/education
Complete this program and you may participate in the Cooperative Education Internship Program. Business Management allows you to explore careers in small business, industry, and government while earning college credit. After graduation, go on to pursue a career as an entrepreneur or business management professional.
As a Business major, you’ll gain a foundational understanding of economics, finance, management, marketing, and social responsibility. You can focus your learning in one of two emphases: Business Management or Public Affairs Management.
Public Affairs Management This program will prepare you to understand the complexities of the relationships between business, government, and non-profit organizations. It prepares you to ethically manage a company’s public affairs functions. You may go on to graduate school or a career in public affairs management or corporate social responsibility in for-profit or non-profit organizations.
Rajat Panwar, Ph.D. Rajat is the Chapple Chair of Business and Social Responsibility. His teaching interests include marketing, strategic management, social entrepreneurship, and business and public policy. Rajat recently developed an action research project in India involving a clean development mechanism, community tourism, and rural development. His corporate social responsibility work and past associations have been diverse and include locations such as the hills of the Himalayas and the plains of India. Rajat is also part of the creation of a United Nations Development Program and consults with United Nations Global Compact initiative.
Meet more of our faculty at northland.edu/faculty
Business
Business Management
Studio Art Major and resident of Quincy, CA, Sam Berry `10 cleans one of his lithographs used for printmaking.
View student art, meet our faculty, and find out about upcoming events at facebook.com/ncArtScene
Creative Arts Northland’s creative arts explore the relationships between humanity and the environment. These programs foster creativity and critical thinking. You will develop visual literacy and problem-solving skills to explore the many avenues of technical and creative expression, while also developing an appreciation for artistic craftsmanship.
Humanities Through an interdisciplinary approach, the Humanities program seeks to answer questions about the human race. You will polish skills in thinking, writing, reading, and expressing yourself. The major will prepare you for a career in publishing, ministry, public relations, journalism, or diplomatic service, and graduate study in a wide range of disciplines.
English & Writing Combining the formal study of English literature with practice in the art and craft of writing fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, Northland’s English and Writing program prepares you for a rewarding career as a professional writer, teacher, policy-maker, attorney, or graduate study in numerous fields.
Art
Fostering creativity and critical thinking through the practice and history of studio arts, the Art program explores avenues of technical and creative expression. Graduates are prepared to be professional artists, museum curators, or marketing professionals.
Find out more about Northland’s arts at northland.edu/arts rd `12, Winona, MN, Elementary Education Major, Natural Science Teaching Minor
Sustainable Community Development This program is designed to help you learn about the interdependence of environmental, economic, and social issues. You will strengthen your abilities to become an effective agent of change in your community. This program will prepare you for a career in government, environmental consulting, or economic and community development, or graduate study in numerous fields.
Native American Studies Northland’s rich relationship with the region’s native community offers you an immersive, hands-on Native American Studies major with a rigorous academic curriculum based in native worldviews and indigenous ways of life. You will be prepared to work in social service agencies, museums, or history centers.
Social Sciences
The Spring Pow Wow has been a Northland tradition for more than 30 years.
Sociology & Social Justice With a degree in Sociology and Social Justice, you will constructively address emerging social trends and problems, including issues of identity, equality, resource distribution, diversity, and environmental sustainability. You will develop skills in critical analysis, conflict resolution, writing, public presentation, and social science research methods.
Humanity & Nature Studies The Humanity and Nature Studies major is designed for you to understand the complex relationships that people have with nature and challenges you to make a difference in the world. This program prepares you for a variety of environmentally focused careers in business, education, government, public policy, community planning or nature therapy, or graduate school.
Find out more on our Facebook page at facebook.com/northlandEDU
Tom Fitz, Ph.D., discusses Lake Superior geology during a Superior Connections field trip.
It’s all about Connections. You will be challenged academically at Northland College, but our curriculum has been designed to help you succeed. General education courses are uniquely designed to help you complete your degree in four years and prepare you for a successful career. We call these general education courses our Connections curriculum. You can choose from three innovative programs to find the one that best fits your interests! Natural Connections Faculty teams will guide you in developing a better understanding of the complex relationship between humanity and the world in which we live. Growing Connections This sequence is rooted in the earth. You will take courses in small business management, sustainable agriculture, and the chemistry of food. Superior Connections Faculty members guide you through an in-depth examination of the Lake Superior watershed. This program culminates in a month-long circumnavigation of Lake Superior.
Wellness Program
You will engage in a co-curriculum of Wellness workshops and learning experiences. Through these workshops, you will actively engage in life's challenges by making ethical and fulfilling choices grounded in a rich sense of identity, positive disposition, and healthy habits over a lifetime.
Examples of Wellness workshops include: • • • • • •
Learning to Observe Nature Wisconsin Hunter Safety Hatha Yoga Discover Scuba (SCUBA Certification) Weight Lifting for Women Stress Management Techniques
• Academic Tutor Training • Intro to West African Dancing • Money 101: How to Manage Your Money • Attending a Professional Conference • Ethical Leadership Training • Gearing Up for Graduate School
Nadine Orozco `10, Corvallis, OR, Business Administration Major
Ben Nicholes `12 of Lodi, WI, and Laura Fisher `11 of Green Bay, WI, test water samples in a nearby marsh.
Learn more about our Connections curriculum at northland.edu/connections
Enhance your resume by earning an Environmental Studies minor just by completing the general education program.
Northland sets national standards. 2011 Princeton Review: Green Honor Roll Northland College received a perfect score in this survey of environmentally friendly schools. Criteria used by the Princeton Review includes the percentage of food expenditures that goes toward local, organic or otherwise environmentally preferable food, whether new buildings are required to be LEED certified for environmental
US News & World Report: Best Liberal Arts Colleges 2011 Northland College ranked in the nation’s top tier among the most competitive and prestigious institutions. To qualify, each liberal arts institution must emphasize undergraduate education and award at least 50 percent of degrees in the liberal arts.
2011 Princeton Review: Best in the Midwest
#4 Most Bike-Friendly Campus of 2011
Northland College is one of the 152 nationally recommended “Best in the Midwest” colleges by The Princeton Review.
Onlineuniversities.com recognized Northland as one of the nation’s most bike-friendly campuses. The student government set up a bike rental system where students can rent bicycles with ease. The Northland Bike Shoppe maintains a fleet of free-to-borrow bikes for the campus community.
Outdoor Life Magazine: Top Towns 2011 Ashland, Wisconsin, was highlighted as a “Top Town” in America based on socio-economic data which made up a strong Quality of Life score. Sixty percent of the criteria was also based on an Outdoor Life score, which includes the abundance of sportsman’s opportunities.
LEED Gold Standard The McLean Environmental Living and Learning Center, an environmentally conscious residence hall, development of the U.S. Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. The newly renovated Dexter Library, which is now one of four buildings in Wisconsin to achieve LEED Gold ranking, is our first certified building with the completion of a photovoltaic array.
You will graduate prepared for success in whatever you choose.
What’s after Northland?
Northland College graduates excel in both the job market and in graduate or professional school. We’ll help you explore professional learning opportunities through internships, networking, job searches, and more. Through this immersion in professional life, you’ll explore how your interests and career options can become real.
Internship Employer Examples: Bad River Watershed Association Apostle Island Community Foundation - Grant Writing Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center Marketing and Outreach Wildlife Rehabilitation Audubon Center Bell Street Pottery
Graduate School Examples: UW Madison Veterinary School of Medicine Michigan Technological University University of Wisconsin Madison George Washington University Vermont School of Law Syracuse University Cornell University Department of Natural Resources
Employer Examples: Lincoln Financial Group Wilderness Inquiry KSWT News NASA
Want to learn more about Northland College grads? Check out northland.edu/outcomes
Prepared for the open road.
Think differently. Live differently.
northland.edu
Get involved.
Each year, members of the Northland community participate, volunteer, and watch the Apostle Islands Sled Dog race which starts just north of Bayfield and stretches up to 80 miles in length.
There are six ski hills within 50 miles.
Most winters, depending on ice and weather conditions, the Apostle Islands National Lake Shore opens a path across the lake to access the frozen sea caves near Meyer's Beach, a stretch of scenic shoreline north of Ashland on the Bayfield Peninsula. Find out more about seasonal activities around the region at northland.edu/activities
Clubs and Organizations Hit the trails, the stage, the climbing wall, or the town. From whitewater paddling to weather forecasting to community service, Northland’s small size and tight-knit community means it’s easy to get involved, both on and off campus.
Northland students get involved around the world through study abroad experiences.
Nordic Ski Club In the winter months, the Nordic Ski Club meets weekly to explore the many trails connected to Northland. Each year, many students, staff, and faculty take part in two of the three largest cross-country ski races in the United States, the American Birkiebeiner in Hayward, Wisconsin, and the Book Across the Bay in Ashland.
Bonnie Johnson `12 Freeport, ME Outdoor Education Major
India May Term Trip Semester-long study abroad opportunities include trips to Iceland, British Columbia, Ecuador, and Namibia - just to name a few!
Watch student videos at northland.edu/videos
Student clubs and organizations include: • • • • • •
Environmental Council Northland Winds Paws and Claws Art League NCSA (Student Government) American Fisheries Society
• Active Minds • Drifts (student newspaper) • Native American Student Association • Quartile Literary Publication • Weather Club • Northland Volunteer Program
View more clubs and organizations at northland.edu/activities
northland.edu